Tow packaging plaiter



Feb. 20, 1962 F. RUDBARG TOW PACKAGING PLAITER Filed Feb. 3, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A ,ldlwlllllv Feb- 20, 1962 F. RUDBARG Tow PACKAGING PLAITER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 3, 1959 MLS? ice

Patented Feb. 20, 1&62

3021 587 right angles to each other. Depositing the ilamentary i l material along this predetermined pattern is achieved ham R db TSW ACKAGWG PLATER, by passing the same through a guide means which is pivefi u afb Philadelphia Paslgno w Ameml otally mounted within a support frame for movement viscose Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation i of Delaware Filed Feb. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 790,865

Y 7 Claims. (Cl. 2S-2l) The present invention relates to improved apparatus for depositing filamentary material in an orderly arrangement to permit the same to be withdrawn in a uniform manner and without entanglement.

In general, the mode of collecting strand or iilamentary materials, either as a self-supporting package or in cartons for transport, is dependent upon two primary considerations; namely, the provision of a compact package, and one which permits the lamentary material to be withdrawn uniformly and without entanglement. While various proposals have been made for attaining both of the above-mentioned objects, complete satisfaction has not been achieved from the standpoint of the resulting package formation or the simplicity of the apparatus required. For example, folding the larnentary material into neat and uniform overlapping layers often results in a loose package formation in which the iilarnentary material becomes packed and tangled during transit. Alternatively, employing conventional equipment to secure a compact bundling of the ilamentary material most usually is achieved at a sacriiice in the ease with which the material may be subsequently withdrawn. Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for collecting lamentary material as a compact package from which the iamentary material may be easily and uniformly withdrawn.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simple and improved apparatus for progressively arranging lilamentary material into a series of superposed layers, with the lamentary material of each layer extending along a sinnous path.

A still further object is to provide an apparatus for folding illamentary material into a series of superposed layers, with the material of each layer disposed in lapped arrangement, and with the laps of adjacent layers extending at substantially right angles to each other.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing in which:

FGURE l is a front view of a portion of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top View of the apparatus shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a right side View of the structure shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating cooperating cams for eiecting concomitant oscillation of a filamentary material guide means in accordance with a desired pattern; and v FIGURE 5 is a plan view of adjacent layers from a finished package showing the lap arrangement of the lamentary material. j in general, the apparatus of the present invention is designed to progressively arrange iilamentary material into a series of superposed layers, with the ilamentary material of each layer being lapped or `plaitedand with the laps of adjacent -layers extending at substantially about a horizontal axis. The support frame is in turn mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis disposed at substantially right angles to the pivot axis of the guide means. A pair of rotatable plate cams are operatively'connected with the guide means and support frame for alternately oscillating the same at high and low frequencies during substantially equal portions of each revolution of the cams. The plate cams are substantially identical in size and shape but are disposed 180 out'of phase so that both the guide means and support frame are simultaneously oscillated at diterent frequencies.

The teachings of the present invention are adapted for use with materials in a variety of forms, such as yarns, threads, and tows, which are included within the terms strand and lamentary material used throughout the description and claims.

With reference to the drawing, the apparatus of the present invention is disposed over a collection conveyor or receptacle packaging station by a suitable supporting framework including side plates 13 and l5 which are bolted at i7 to structural channel sections i9. Bearings '21 are iixed to the lower ends of the side plates 13 and l5 and pivotally receive trunnions 23 which project from opposite sides ot rectangular support frame Z5. A strand guide member 27, which includes a downwardly extending elongated funnel 29, is pivotally mounted Within the frame 2S by trunnions 3l ywhich extend along an axis at substantially right angles to the axis of trunnions 23.

A rotatable plate cam 33, acting through a translating slide mechanism, indicated generally at 35, and a link 37, serves to oscillate the strand guide member 27 about the trunnions 31 and thus move the center line of the funnel 29 between positions as indicated by broken lines 33 in FIGURE l. The slide mechanism 35 is movably mounted on a rod 39 projecting from the slide plate 13 and includes a slide block el disposed between the biturcated arms of a slide yoke 43. A follower roll 45 is carried by the slide yoke 43 and is resiliently urged into engagement with the periphery of the cam 33 by .a compression spring 47 which is interposed between the side plate r3 and the slide yoke 43. The cam 33 is keyed to a drive shaft 49 which is carried by a bracket Si and, as more fully described hereafter, is provided with a peripheral contour which will ei'iect oscillation of the strand guide member at desired frequencies. he link 37 is connected at one end to the slide block il by a pivot pin S3, and is in the form of a yoke having arms 55 which are in turn pivoted at 57 to lugs 59 formed integrally with and depending from strand guide member Z7.

Concomitantly with the movement of the funnel 29, as described above, a rotatable plate cam 61 serves to oscillate the support frame 2S about its trunnions 23. The cam 6l is identical to the cam 33 in size and shape Iand is engaged at its periphery by a follower roll 63 which is carried at one end of'a push or follower rod 65. The follower rod 65 is slidably mounted Within bearings 67 which are fixed to the side plate 13, and is pivotally connected at 69 to a pivot block 7i. An elongated slot 73 is formed in the pivot block 7l and receives a pin '75 which projects from an opstanding lug 77 xed to the frame 25. A'spring 79 is interposed between the pivot 3 bloclL 7l and an abutment @l which is preferably adjustably carried by the side plate i3 to permit the spring '79 to be compressed or loaded to a desired degree. rfhe pivot block Il and the abutment 8l are cach provided with guide pins 83 to retain the spring 79 in desired position.

From the structure described, it will be apparent that movement of the push rod 65 and the pivot block 7l to the left, yas viewed in FIGURE 3, causes the eccentric pin 'id and support frame 25' to pivot in a counterclockwise direction about the trunnions 2.3. During this movement, vthe spring 79 is compressed and thus serves to urge the pivot block '7i and push rod d5 to the right when the follower roll 63 rides along a notched or valley portion of the plate cam 6l. With this latter movement of the pivot bloei; ril, the pin YS and the support frame 25 are urged in a clockwise direction `about the trunnions 23 and thus the center line of the funnel 29 oscillates between extreme positions as indicated in FlGURE 3 4by broken lines 35.

A shaft S7 carries the plate cam 6l and is operatively connected to the shaft di?, with conventional drive means, not shown, being provided for rotating both of these shafts at substantially the same speed. A strand feed roll 39 is lalso connected to the drive means and is rotatably supported above the funnel 29 by bearings lil which are lined to the structural channel sections i9. As shown by broken lines in FIGURE 2, the periphery of the feed roll S9 lies along a plane passing through the axis of the trunnions 23 and thus a strand passing over the rollt-39` will be delivered substantially centrally of the funnel 2?.

As heretofore mentioned, the plate cams 33 and el are of identical size and shape, with their peripheries each having a sinuated portion 93 and a smooth arcuate portion 95 which extends eccentrically with respect to the axis of the individual cams. The sinuated portions 55 of the respective cams 33 and el are each designed to impart a relatively high frequency oscillation to the strand guide member 27 and support frame 25, respectively. 0n the other hand, the smooth arcuate portions 95 of the cams 33 and di serve to move the respective guide member 27 and support frame 25 at -a low frequency; namely, through one half of an oscillation cycle or a Single Stroke.

Tie cams 33 and 6l are disposed 180 out of phase, as shown in FIGURES l, 3 and 4, so as to oscillate the support frame 25 and the strand guide member 2,7 alternately at a high and low frequency. Thus, upon rotation of the cams 33 and 6l, the support frame 25 is oscillated at a high frequency by the sinuated portion of the cam 61, while the smooth arcuate portion 95 of the cam 33 pe mits the strand-guide member 27 to simultaneously move through a single stroke. With this concomitant movement of the support frame 2S and the strand guide member 2T", la strand delivered to the funnel 29 will be deposited ina sinuous pattern as illustrated at the left side of FGURE 5. As the sinuated portion $3 of the cam 33 moves into engagement with the slide mechanism 35, the smooth arcuate portion 9S of the cam 6l. simultaneously engages with the follower roll 63 and thus the movements of the support frame 25 and strand-guide member 27 are reversed from that described above. With the strand guide member 27 now being oscillated at a high frequency, the funnel 29 deposits the strand material in a sinuous pattern as illustrated at the right side of FIGURE 5. Since the sinuous strand patterns of the adjacent pachage layers extend at substantially right angles to each other, it will be apparent that the finished package has good stability, yet permits strand withdrawal without entangleinent.

As shown in the drawing, the use of identical plate cams 33 and permits lthe formation of a strand package of substantially rectangular cross-section. lt will be understood, however, that the peripheral shapef of the plate cams lee-changed from that. illustratedzto: vary l either the sinuous pattern of the strand or the crosssectional shape of the package, or both. For example, the strand laps may be disposed closer or further apart merely by varying the spacing between the projections on the sinuated portion 93 of one or both cams. Further, by providing one cam with a smooth arcuate portion 95 of increased length over that illustrated on the drawing, and the other cam with `a sinuated portion 93 of corresponding length, the strand may be deposited into a package of rectangular cross-section.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that changes and vaiiations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as delined in the appended claims.

l claim:

l. Apparatus for depositing a strand along a predetermined pattcrn including a fixed supporting structure, a frame mounted on the supporting structure for pivotal movement about a first axis, strand-guide means mounted on the frame `for pivotal movement about a second axis, means for oscillating said frame and strand-guide means in alternating relation at different frequencies, said lastmentioned means including a cam, means for rotating said cam whereby said frame is oscillated at a high frequency during part of each revolution of the cam and at a low frequency during the remainder of such cam revolution, a seco-nd cam operatively connected with said strandguide means, and means for rotating said cams at a substantially uniform rate.

2. Apparatus `as defined in claim l wherein said cams each include an eccentric peripheral portion for effecting oscillation of said frane and strand-guide means at a high frequency during part of each revolution and at a low frequency during the remainder of such revolution, s-aid cams being mounted in out of phase relationship whereby said high and low frequency oscillation of said frame and strand-guide means is effected in alternating relation.

3. Apparatus for depositing a strand along a predetermined pattern including a fixed supporting structure, a frame mounted on the supporting structure for pivotal movement about a first axis, strand-guide means mounted on the frame for pivotal movement about a secondaxis, a pair of substantially identical plate cams for oscillating said frame and strand-guide means alternately at a high `frequency during one-half revolution of said cams and at a low frequency during the remainder of such revolution, means for rotating said cams at `a substantiallyvuni- `form rate, cam follower means engaging with the periphery of one of said cams and connected to said frame, second cam follower means engaging with the other of said cams and connected to said strand-guide means, said cams being mounted in out of phase relationship whereby said high and low frequency oscillation of said frame and strand-guide means is eifected in alternating relation.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the peripheries of said plate cams are shaped to oscillate one of said frame and strand-guide means through a single stroke while the other of said frame and strand-guide means is oscillated through a plurality of strokes whereby the strand is deposited along a sinuous path.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said firstinentioned follower means includes a follower rod mounted for slidable movement relative to saidfixed supporting structure and having one end engaging with the periphery of one of said cams, a pivot block connected to the opposite end of said follower rod, a slot disposed along a vertical plane passing through .saidA first aris, a piniixed to said frame and projecting into said pivot block slot, and resilient means acting on said follower rod for maintainingnthe same engaged with said onecam.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said second followerV means ,includes a,blockmounted for. movement relative to; saldi tired supportingstrucuirea follower roll 5 operatir/ely connected with said block and engaging with reciprocating said follower means through a single stroke the perlphery 0f Sald other Cam, and a yoke Connected during the remaining portion of each cam revolution.

at one end to said slide block and pivotally mounted to said strand-guide means.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said plate 5 References Cited in the le of this patent cams are each formed with a peripheral portion shaped UNITED STATES PATENTS to reciprocate the respective follower means through a series of uniform strokes during substantially one-half 965,561 Butler July 26, 1910 revolution of the cams, and a smooth peripheral portion 2,468,834 Nash May 3, 1949 extending eccentrically of the respective cam axis for 10 2,604,687 Broden July 29, 1952 

